One man involved in a fatal botched carjacking near Woodstock in August has begun a 40-year sentence after admitting to his role in the incident and the case against his suspected accomplice is moving forward in Cherokee County courts.

Maurice Perkins, 20, of Gary, Ind., pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter Dec. 18 in the shooting death of 27-year-old Acworth resident Andre Rodriguez, who police say is the third suspect in the Aug. 22 incident, court records show.

Perkins was sentenced to 20 years in state prison, followed by 20 years of probation for his role in the incident that police say happened when a stolen 2011 Dodge Charger crashed on Highway 92 and Rodriguez was found shot to death inside.

Jumar Greer, 19, of Acworth, the second suspect accused in Rodriguez’s death and the carjacking, is set to be arraigned Jan. 16, according to the Cherokee Clerk of Court’s Office.

According to his sentencing, Perkins must testify about the case or any related matters.

Perkins and Greer were indicted in December and accused of kidnapping, assaulting and robbing Justin Humphries, 19, of Acworth, who owned the car.

Humphries’ car was found wrecked near Wade Green Road after he heard a gunshot in the car, police said at the time of the incident.

Just before the gunshot, Perkins and Greer had been pistol-whipping Humphries in the head, when he began to struggle with them for control of a .38-caliber Ruger, and it went off, killing Rodriguez, their indictment said.

Perkins was taken into custody two days later after a traffic stop in Gary, where he lived at the time. Greer was arrested hours after the incident by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, police said.

They were indicted on seven charges each, including felony murder, kidnapping and armed robbery. The indictment didn’t specify which suspect was accused of holding the gun when it shot Rodriguez.

As part of his sentence, Perkins is barred from having any contact with Humphries, Greer or two brothers who have also been charged in the case, Quovadis Arrington and Tavaris Dondre Arrington, 23-year-old twins from Acworth.

The twins are accused of helping Greer avoid police. They were indicted on one count each of hindering the apprehension or punishment of a criminal in December and are also set to be arraigned Jan. 16 in Cherokee Superior Court, according to the clerk of court’s office.

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